Best time of year to purchase a new electric mountain bike for the best price

[archie2017]

When is the best time of the year that I can buy an electric mountain bike for the best price?

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Usually in August / September as that’s when the manufacturers start to release the next years models. Specialized usually release their bikes in September / October and you can normally get the current years models for a good 20%-30% off retail price.

 

[archie2017]

Awesome. Thanks Rob!

 

[Jammer77]

Definitely late summer, agreed. I got a Carbon Stumpjumper, but was previous years (only change was colours). I saved about 20% IIRC.

 

[Kernow]

Have recently been in the market , lots of those last season reduced bikes are still about at great prices
, the commencal I ordered had a spec I couldn’t match anywhere even if I had another 2 k to spend , I think if there’s a new model out there and it proves to be a popular bike like the Merida last year prices will go up on the second batch , so Iam hoping buying the first of the commencal will be a good buy considering they had sold out a month before the first delivery date and the next lot will take another 3-4 months to arrive . Fingers crossed it’s not a dog ?

 

[Doomanic]

It's a case of finding the sweet spot of best price and frame size availability. I thought I'd left it too late this year but lucked onto the bike I wanted, in the size I needed, for a very good price. I ended up getting 28.7% off RRP which was £500 less than they had been advertising the bike for in the previous weeks. There is still one on eBay for £800 more than I paid...

 

[LukeTurner]

You do tend to start seeing new model year bikes announced in September, although they don't get to retailers until November/December time. Some of the new 2018 Cube's have delivery dates going back to May. Retailers will start to put 'current model year' bikes on sale from around August time where the discounts will increase as you get to the end of the year. November time is the 'sweet spot' for discounts and buying new bikes where you will benefit from the biggest discounts and not miss out on the shops selling out of the particular model you're after.

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

It's a case of finding the sweet spot of best price and frame size availability. I thought I'd left it too late this year but lucked onto the bike I wanted, in the size I needed, for a very good price. I ended up getting 28.7% off RRP which was £500 less than they had been advertising the bike for in the previous weeks. There is still one on eBay for £800 more than I paid...

Hi Doomanic, what was the bike and model name?

 

[Doomanic]

Trek Powerfly LT 8

 

[ccrdave]

Have recently been in the market , lots of those last season reduced bikes are still about at great prices
, the commencal I ordered had a spec I couldn’t match anywhere even if I had another 2 k to spend , I think if there’s a new model out there and it proves to be a popular bike like the Merida last year prices will go up on the second batch , so Iam hoping buying the first of the commencal will be a good buy considering they had sold out a month before the first delivery date and the next lot will take another 3-4 months to arrive . Fingers crossed it’s not a dog ?

Those commencal look the dogs danglies mate I wouldnt mind one of those as well.

if anybody is interested I have a 2017 levo in very good condition for sale
sorry if advertising is not allowed

 

[Kernow]

Those commencal look the dogs danglies mate I wouldnt mind one of those as well.

if anybody is interested I have a 2017 levo in very good condition for sale
sorry if advertising is not allowed

A for sale section here would be good I think ?

The commencal does look very good , I guess we’ve taken a chance buying without riding , but it is so close to the highly acclaimed pedal version I felt we couldn’t go wrong . Certainly the spec for the price is unbeatable . Let’s hope we’re right in our choice ?

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

Those commencal look the dogs danglies mate I wouldnt mind one of those as well.

if anybody is interested I have a 2017 levo in very good condition for sale
sorry if advertising is not allowed

Ccrdave, What are you hoping to get for your Levo? I am in the market for an ebike but haven’t really decided which way to jump yet..... Levo.. possibly,

But then I read Bosch is a better climber, then Shimano is better package ..... man I am getting so confused... however, that is why I joined the forum so you could all confuse we even more ??? sooooooo

What say you all? What ebike should I go for?

I currently have an S Works Epic, an S Works Enduro with ohlins rear and 180mm Lyriks and a Santacruz Nomad 275 with an Elevensix rear and a 180mm Pushed Fox 36. I will definitely be keeping the Epic, however one of the other bikes has to go to make room for the new E-Bike.

 

[LukeTurner]

I would recommend riding a few before making a decision. Lots of people have a personal preference on motor choice, for me, the only way I would go personally is a Levo/Kenevo.

I'm a fairly keen non-pedal-assist rider so the Levo to me, feels the most natural and still feels like I'm actually doing some work, although I know others who can't stand the Brose motor.

 

[Kernow]

I would recommend riding a few before making a decision. Lots of people have a personal preference on motor choice, for me, the only way I would go personally is a Levo/Kenevo.

I'm a fairly keen non-pedal-assist rider so the Levo to me, feels the most natural and still feels like I'm actually doing some work, although I know others who can't stand the Brose motor.

I would agree with that , I liked the Levo too , certainly a nice bike and like you I ride a normal bike lots and I like to pedal , it worked great alone or with other non electric bikes , but there was no way it would get even close to the Bosch motors when I rode with them , so I guess you also need to look at what your mates are peddling or the reason for going ebike may not be completely fulfilled .
It was the older Levo 1.2 not the newer 1.3 which is supposed to have more go .

 

[Doomanic]

Levo was my first foray into eBiking thanks to a Noah's Ark test day. I was skeptical at first, but by the end I was hooked, but I'd only just bought my Nukeproof Mega 275 so wasn't in a position to buy one. I did find it very short though and had to ride an XL to get the reach I wanted (I'm 5'9"!!!).

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

Thanks for the info all,

I have had a short ride on a Levo and really liked it, in the next few weeks I will be going to Bike Park Wales where they are hiring out the latest Treks Powerfly 8 LTs so will grab one of those for the day. I want to test Shimano motor as well so will need to find out where you can hires these in Wales

 

[ccrdave]

Ccrdave, What are you hoping to get for your Levo? I am in the market for an ebike but haven’t really decided which way to jump yet..... Levo.. possibly,

But then I read Bosch is a better climber, then Shimano is better package ..... man I am getting so confused... however, that is why I joined the forum so you could all confuse we even more ??? sooooooo

What say you all? What ebike should I go for?

I currently have an S Works Epic, an S Works Enduro with ohlins rear and 180mm Lyriks and a Santacruz Nomad 275 with an Elevensix rear and a 180mm Pushed Fox 36. I will definitely be keeping the Epic, however one of the other bikes has to go to make room for the new E-Bike.

Its a 2017 with an updated motor and wiring harness
Brakes are upgraded to shimano slx and its fitted with brand new rockshox revelations with 34mm staunchins
I want £1995 for it it in good nick and if you want to ride it im in the forest of dean

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

That sounds like a pretty fair price, any photos available? Also when you say updated motor, is that a firmware update or hardware update? You can email the photos to [email protected] and we can discuss any other details further via email. ?

 

[Al Boneta]

You do tend to start seeing new model year bikes announced in September, although they don't get to retailers until November/December time. Some of the new 2018 Cube's have delivery dates going back to May. Retailers will start to put 'current model year' bikes on sale from around August time where the discounts will increase as you get to the end of the year. November time is the 'sweet spot' for discounts and buying new bikes where you will benefit from the biggest discounts and not miss out on the shops selling out of the particular model you're after.

This is sound advice. As a retailer I can also tell you that January and February are also great times to pick up previous model year stragglers that shops want gone.
There are also shops that seek out and actively buy closeout inventory. The 2017 Turbo Levo FSR women’s base models went on sale from Specialized, so we bought quite a few of them. The MSRP on these was $4500. We were selling them for $2600 and they were bought up by men.

 

[ccrdave]

That sounds like a pretty fair price, any photos available? Also when you say updated motor, is that a firmware update or hardware update? You can email the photos to [email protected] and we can discuss any other details further via email. ?

I will do some photos today and send them to you
The early batch of 2017 models were released without a heatsink pad which allowed the motor to overheat my bike went back to specialised and they fitted the heatsink pads replaced the motor and updated the firmware to the latest spec.they also replaced the wiring harness. These upgrades have made my 2017 bike perform almost identical to my 2018 bike in fact i was a little disappointed with my 2018 because the 2017 is so good.
The 2017 battery is still running the previous firmware which in my opinion is better than the latest in some ways but it can be easily updated if needed

 

[Kiwi in Wales]

I will do some photos today and send them to you
The early batch of 2017 models were released without a heatsink pad which allowed the motor to overheat my bike went back to specialised and they fitted the heatsink pads replaced the motor and updated the firmware to the latest spec.they also replaced the wiring harness. These upgrades have made my 2017 bike perform almost identical to my 2018 bike in fact i was a little disappointed with my 2018 because the 2017 is so good.
The 2017 battery is still running the previous firmware which in my opinion is better than the latest in some ways but it can be easily updated if needed

Thanks for the heads up, looking forward to receiving the photos

 

[ccrdave]

Photos sent mate

 

[Labrador29]

Usually in August / September as that’s when the manufacturers start to release the next years models. Specialized usually release their bikes in September / October and you can normally get the current years models for a good 20%-30% off retail price.

My Late father and two brothers between them, owned and ran a very successful cycle shop in NZ. As you say, the best time of the year for them as well, was shortly before the next years bikes were due to be released on the retail market.. The distributors offered them a greatly reduced bulk deal, and they bought as many of the last year's model as they could store. Customer got good deals too. Winners all round.

 

[steve_sordy]

Old thread. That was then what is it like now? This Covid distortion of the market can't last for ever though.

 

[Philpug]

Right now, the best deal is on the bike you find in stock.

 

[Ripping g]

Show me a discount on any bike what’s any good and not a size small no one needs to discount a bike these days